An Unusual Presentation of Right Common Iliac Artery Occlusion Secondary to Dissection of the Descending Aorta

Aortic dissection is a catastrophic condition which presents as an acute emergency with high morbidity in the vent of treatment delay or misdiagnosis. Aortic dissection may manifest in different forms depending on location and may mimic other disorders. 6.4 % to 17 % of dissections have been reported as painless. Uncommon presentations include syncope, lower extremity weakness and pain, mesenteric ischemia, peripheral ischemia, and congestive heart failure.

In this case report, a 60-year-old man with a history of hypertension and heavy smoking was admitted from the emergency department. He presented with a four-hour history of pain and weakness in his right lower limb. The patient was found to have a distal aortic dissection complicated by right common iliac artery occlusion, hence surgical correction was performed. The condition was promptly recognized and treatment was initiated without delay.